It is definitely different, comically dark and uniquely entertaining enough to be one of the better films of 2004.
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Today, you get a real double dip. Not only do you get to read and digest my own reactions to the 2004 romantic-parody-tribute "Shaun of the Dead," you get to hear from two gentlemen who actually participated in the filmmaking, Kevin and Nick Wilson (the Disgusting Duo), who played the twin zombies in the movie. Their observations on the film and its production are appended to my own, and we at DVD Town thank them for their contributions (both to the film and to the review).
Just when you think you have seen every zombie movie known to man, along comes "Shaun of the Dead." It is a film that has its own originality yet stays traditional enough to the "dead" genre that it is easily commendable as a tribute to the old Romero classics. What makes it unique amongst its predecessors is that it is actually a romantic comedy rather than a straightforward horror film. In fact, the zombies act more as a backdrop to the film rather than being committed as the main focus of the plot. Word on the street is that "Shaun of the Dead" is destined to become a cult classic, and after watching the film I can see the ever-so-apparent possibilities of that happening.
As with many cult-classic films, "Shaun of the Dead" certainly has that B-movie feel, which does not make it the best zombie film ever made. However, it is that gritty, independent approach that makes the film quite enjoyable. Being that it is a romantic comedy, one might expect it to be a charming film, but nothing could be further from the truth. The comedy itself is neither forced nor obvious, but it is rather witty, sarcastic, and dark, with a touch of slapstick. Considering that it is an English film directed and cowritten by Edgar Wright, I couldn´t help wonder if some of the comedy was not inspired by Monty Python or Benny Hill. In fact, much of the movie reminded me of witty elements I´ve seen in Guy Richie films, such as "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" or "The Snatch."
Needless to say, it is also a zombie film, and there are plenty of outright grotesque and disturbingly disgusting scenes. The film also holds true to the traditional Romero zombies that are slow and lethargic, rather than the new vicious zombies seen in the 2004 remake of "Dawn of the Dead" or Danny Boyle´s zombies in "28 Days Later." Given the mixture of comedy and horror, it is a rather daring and challenging combination that seems to work for the film. I can honestly say it was nothing that I would have ever expected, but I have to admit I was entertained by the outcome. Granted, comedy mixed with horror has been done in the past, such as in "Return of the Living Dead," "House," and "Creepshow," just to name a few. Nevertheless, it is the connection with the main characters that makes this film work far better than its predecessors do. Whereas most comedy-horror focuses directly on the horror theme itself, "Shaun of the Dead" focuses directly on character development and comedy rather than giving us a story with people we would neither admire nor loath.
Essentially, the film is about a 29-year old man named Shaun (Simon Pegg, who cowrote the screenplay), who lives a dull life working in an appliance store and living with his deadbeat roommate, Ed (Nick Frost). Shaun´s love interest is a young, charming, ambitious lass named Liz (Kate Ashfield). Growing tired of their three-year relationship, Liz decides to break it off. In a fit of depression, Ed takes Shaun out to the local pub to get pissed, as the English would call it. Meanwhile, during all of these events, people around London seem to by dying off from a strange flu epidemic. What´s unique here is how the film is able to keep the underlying story so far in the background that you almost forget it´s a zombie movie.
After a night of heavy drinking, Shaun and Ed wake and end up with a zombie that simply walks through the front door. Of course, this is their first encounter with a zombie and it takes them at least a couple of zombies before they figure out that they need to destroy their brain in order to kill them. One of the funniest scenes has Shaun and Ed in the backyard trying to kill two zombies with whatever they can find in the kitchen. No matter what they threw at them, nothing ever manages to hit either of the zombies in the head. It gets even more comical when our two dumbfounded heroes decide to start throwing Shaun´s album collection at the two walking dead.
As with any zombie film, there is always the dilemma of panic and what should be done to remain safe. Shaun comes up with the bright idea of rescuing his mother (Penelope Wilton), stepfather Philip (Bill Nighy), and Liz, and then hiding out in the local pub. Shaun´s plan seems to work out for the most part but not without a few blemishes and hilarious moments along the way. There are many characters that you will come to dislike and would much rather see get eaten by a zombie. Then there are others who are just plain annoying and foul up everything in their path, namely Ed. However, through all of this, Shaun sees the whole experience as a big wake-up call to get his life together and prove that he is worthy of Liz. Luckily, for the audience, Shaun does turn out to be the natural hero that we all cheer for.
On a positive note, the film captivates the importance of relationships with family and friends during a time of crisis. Even though the film relays the message in a rather dark-comical way, you still can´t help but notice there is an underlying drama in the film that almost goes unrecognized. And as a zombie film, this is the only one that I´ve seen that comes up with a solution rather than an ending that just leaves you hanging on for a part two. Some films are better off standing on their own, and "Shaun of the Dead" has proven itself to be one of those films that does just that. I can´t say it´s the best out of the lot that I´ve seen in the genre, and it does have a few plot holes that are made fun of in the special features of the DVD. Nevertheless, what it lacks it more than makes up for in its characters, comedy, and gross-out moments. Overall, it is an entertaining film and, as I´ve said, a worthy tribute to the old Romero classics.
Video:
The image is presented in an anamorphic widescreen ratio of 2.35:1. As with many independent films, the picture quality is slightly grainy and lightly under-toned when it comes to vivid color and contrast. However, much of this could be because of the artistic intent of the movie, the filmmakers trying to make it look as authentic to the Romero films as possible. If that were the case, then the picture worked fine for what it delivered. It certainly had that look of a film that was made back in the late 70´s or early 80´s. At least that´s what I was thinking. Then again, maybe I need to stop drinking when I´m watching these movies.
Audio:
The audio is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 in English, Spanish, and French. Overall, it delivered a good balance with lows and mids being the dominate tones. Some of the sound dynamics were a bit muffled at times, making it slightly difficult to hear dialogue where needed, but it was certainly nothing I wouldn´t expect for a film of this quality. Other than that, the audio performed well enough for a zombie movie.
Extras:
This edition of "Shaun of the Dead" is on a single disc and does have a substantial amount of extras; however, most of them are very short and not as insightful as one would expect. There are plenty of the usual extras, such as deleted scenes, outtakes, commentary from the cast and crew, and a very short featurette on the making of the film. The funny thing is, on the back of the DVD case there´s a line in the special features section that says, "All-new deleted scenes not shown in theaters." My response to that was, "Duh!" Since when have you gone to a movie theater and watched deleted scenes from the film you went to see? Then again, I could be mistaken, and maybe this happens in some small town like Martinez, California?
Other features on the disc include never-before-seen casting video, Simon Pegg´s video diary of the movie, special effects comparisons, full TV bits from the film with an interview from the band "Coldplay," Zomb-O-Meter trivia, and an on-and-off the studio set photo gallery. The disc also comes with a few previews of other Rogue Pictures (Universal´s independent studio company) films. The good news is you are able to skip the previews and go directly to the main menu.
I´m sure many readers are wondering if there will be a special edition release of this film. With as much hype of this movie being labeled a "cult classic," I´m sure a special edition will be inevitable in the near future. The real question is whether to buy this edition or wait for a double-disc set. I say purchase both because it´s better to keep Universal happy so they will deliver more quality films.
Parting Thoughts:
This year alone has given us more than our usual share of films in the undead genre. Whether it´s the remake of "Dawn of the Dead," "Resident Evil II," or this film, "Shaun of the Dead," there has certainly been a broad library of choices to satisfy the biggest of zombie fans. For me, I would bank my choice on the remake of "Dawn of the Dead." I find that the more realistic approach and genuine suspense appeals to me more when it comes to this genre. However, that is not to say that "Shaun of the Dead" is not worthy of being a platinum choice for a zombie movie. It is definitely different, comically dark and uniquely entertaining enough to be one of the better films of 2004.
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[release]14079[/release]